The Nigerian government has launched a nationwide citizenship movement designed to transform patriotism from mere emotion into everyday action, responsibility, and nation-building.
The initiative, titled “My Nigeria, My Responsibility,” was officially flagged off in Abuja, Nigeria, by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking on behalf of the President, the Minister described patriotism as an active verb, a collective duty expressed through personal values, tax compliance, truthfulness in public discourse, and a shared commitment to national progress.
“True patriotism is the daily choice to be responsible for our nation’s story, its progress, and its image. Nigeria’s destiny does not rest in the hands of a few, but in the actions of 200 million citizens.”
The Minister also highlighted President Tinubu’s decades-long defence of democracy, noting that the President’s political journey reflects the very essence of responsible citizenship the campaign seeks to inspire nationwide.
He outlined the administration’s major policy reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies, foreign exchange reform, tax justice initiatives, and digitalised revenue mobilisation. He linked them directly to citizen responsibility and shared prosperity.
He described tax compliance as a civic duty that directly funds national development: “Patriotism is in the taxes you pay. When you pay your fair share, you are directly investing in the school your child attends, the road your business uses, and the security that guards your home.”
Idris further announced that, in February 2026, the ministry will inaugurate the National Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Institute, a landmark public education platform that will equip citizens with tools to verify information, resist misinformation, and engage ethically online.
“We must not weaponise falsehood. In this digital age, truthful communication is a patriotic duty,” the minister stressed.
He urged citizens to embody the values enshrined in the newly adopted Citizens’ Charter of National Values: integrity, patriotism, diligence, tolerance, and excellence.
The minister added a call for every Nigerian to embrace the campaign as a national covenant for responsible nation-building. “The President is providing the canvas of stability and vision; the rest of us must pick up the brush. Let us paint together the masterpiece of a new Nigeria, through our values, our taxes, our stories, and our actions. My Nigeria, My Responsibility.”
The campaign, spearheaded by the Presidency through the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Citizenship and Leadership, aims to rekindle a culture of responsible citizenship.